Social media networking platform Facebook on Friday launched a new feature called Slideshow for doing business using its platform. The new feature is a lightweight video advertisement made from a series of still images, which is easy for advertisers to use and is engaging for people, the company said in a blog post. "As people continue to connect to Facebook using different connection speeds and device types, plus as video consumption moves to mobile -- video can also be challenge to advertisers," the company said justifying the requirement of the new feature.﻿﻿ Source: IANS

30-Oct-2015Business

Kotak Mahindra Bank posts Rs.569 crore net

Private sector Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd on Friday said it has logged a net profit of Rs.569.50 crore for the second quarter of the current fiscal as against Rs.444.52 crore for the quarter ended September 30, 2014. In a regulatory filing with BSE, the bank said total income is Rs.4,621.38 crore for the quarter against Rs.2,818.93 crore in the same period last year.﻿﻿ Source: IANS

30-Oct-2015Sports

National Hockey Championship in April-May 2016

The 2016 National Hockey Championship will be played from April 11 to May 1 in Saifai, Uttar Pradesh.﻿ The championship has been divided into two sections -- A and B. The A section, matches will be held from April 19 to May 1, and the B section ties will be played between April 11-21.﻿ The women's championship will be held in Bengaluru from April 19 to May 1. The A section matches will be held from April 25 to May 1 while the B section games will played between April 19 to 27.﻿ Source: IANS

30-Oct-2015Business

ICICI Bank to dilute stake in ICICI Lombard General Insurance

ICICI Bank Ltd on Friday said its board has approved sale of nine percent stake in ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd to its joint venture partner Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. In a regulatory filing with BSE, the bank said the proposed transaction values the company at Rs.17,225 crore ($2.6 billion). "Upon completion of the transaction, the share ownership in the company of ICICI Bank and Fairfax will be approximately 64 percent and 35 percent, respectively," the bank said.﻿﻿ Source: IANS

30-Oct-2015Business

Flipkart plans to invest $2.5 bn for expansion

India's biggest e-commerce company Flipkart plans to invest $2 billion in logistics and another $500 million in a nationwide warehouse network over the next four to five years, co-founder and COO Binny Bansal said. The company, which opened its largest fulfilment centre here, is looking at opening 80 to 100 warehouses across the country.Bansal told reporters that they will explore raising funds through IPO and private investors in addition from their own accruals.﻿﻿ Source: IANS

30-Oct-2015Business

Asian Tour heavyweights to light up Panasonic Open India

Indian and international stars are poised to light up the $400,000 Panasonic Open India at the venerable Delhi Golf Club (DGC). Two-time Asian Tour No.1 Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand will headline the elite field alongside former Order of Merit champion Jyoti Randhawa of India, Marcus Both of Australia and Prom Meesawat from Thailand. Indian stalwarts Gaganjeet Bhullar, a five-time Asian Tour winner, Rashid Khan, Chiragh Kumar, who finished tied second at the recent Macao Open, and Rahil Gangjee, who finished tied second here last year, will also feature in the popular Asian Tour event.﻿﻿ Source: IANS

30-Oct-2015Politics

Kerala CM defends minister in bar scam case

As the opposition leaders in Kerala demanded state Finance Minister K.M. Mani’s removal from the cabinet after a special vigilance court ruling against him, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday said there was no need for Mani to step down. On Thursday, a special vigilance court quashed a clean chit given by the vigilance department to Mani in the bar scam case and ordered a further probe. The court order came after seven petitions that sought further probe into the case. Last October, bar owner Biju Ramesh had claimed that Mani was given Rs 1 crore as bribe by the Kerala Bar Owners’ Association to reopen 418 bars shut down in the state under a new excise policy. Source: IANS

30-Oct-2015Politics

J&K pins hope on Modi visit, awaits major economic package

PM Narendra Modi’s forthcoming visit toJammu and Kashmirhas rekindled hopes for a much awaited economic package being announced this time. Modi is arriving on a day-long visit to the state on 7 November 2015 and will have a busy schedule. He will address the first-ever Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally inSrinagar. Modi is expected to announce a large economic package of around Rs.90,000 crores for the state. A clear indication that this time the announcement would be made by the Prime Minister came on Thursday from Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed who told a public meeting that Modi’s visit will bring in good news for everybody and help development, relief and rehabilitation. Source: IANS

30-Oct-2015Politics

L-G 'pressures' minister over Chautala parole

Delhi Home Minister Satyendra Jain has complained to CM Arvind Kejriwal about being allegedly pressured by Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung for granting parole to INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Raghav Chadha alleged that Jung is defending Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Chautala and misleading the media. Chadha also questioned Jung’s motive as the LG office released a press statement on Friday. Chautala is currently behind bars in Tihar Jail here after being convicted in a case relating to teachers’ recruitment in Haryana. Source: IANS﻿

30-Oct-2015Others

Man gets death sentence for raping techie

A sessions court here on Friday sentenced to death a 29-year-old man found guilty of robbing, raping, burning and killing Esther Anuhya, a techie from Andhra Pradesh, on 5 January 2014. Special Judge Vrushali Joshi pronounced the verdict against Chandrabhan Sudam Sanap, who was found guilty on October 27. Jonathan Prasad and Thomas Noble - the father and brother of the 23-year old victim - welcomed the verdict. The aggrieved father said that justice had been done and they were grateful to the police, courts and media for taking up the cause so diligently. He also feels that it would serve as a deterrent for others. Source: IANS

30-Oct-2015Sports

Board President XI reach 100/3 against South Africans (Lead)

After a sloppy start, batsmen Lokesh Rahul and Karun Nair held on to guide the Board President XI to 100/3 in 27 overs by lunch against the South Africans on the opening day of their two-day practice match at the Brabourne Stadium here on Friday. Rahul (39 batting) and Nair (36 batting) were on the crease when lunch was called. For the visitors, Dale Steyn (2/13) and Vernon Philander (1/22) were the pick of the bowlers. Source: IANS

30-Oct-2015Others

Quake shakes Northeast India

The people of northeastern India witnessed an earthquake early on Friday. A seismologist pointed out that the quake had measured 4.9 on the Richter Scale. The earthquake is said to have occurred around 3.45 a.m and the epicenter is Assam’s Karimganj district which shares a border with Bangladesh. The quake lasted for a hardly 12 seconds and there was no damage to life or property. The tremors were mostly felt in parts of Meghalaya,Assam and some adjoining areas in the Northeast. Source:IANS

30-Oct-2015Others

Bouncer manhandle journos at Harbhajan's wedding

Punjab police have registered a case against unidentified bouncers who allegedly manhandled media persons covering the wedding reception of Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh. A case was registered after the upset media persons staged a sit-in outside the reception venue in Jalandhar city, 150 km from Chandigarh, demanding immediate arrest of four bouncers. They alleged that bouncers manhandled them and took away and broke their cameras and equipment. After the alleged dispute, Harbhajan came out of the house and apologised on behalf of the bouncers. He pleaded with the media, mostly camera persons of TV channels and photographers of media publications, not to pursue the matter further. Source:IANS